A 16-year-old juvenile has been arrested and charged after a school shooting threat to three Henrico County high schools that was ultimately deemed "not credible" by police.The juvenile was charged with making threats of bodily injury to persons on school property, police said. No other information is being released by police.Late Thursday evening, according to Henrico police, a threatening message which mentioned Glen Allen, Mills Godwin and Deep Run high schools was "circulating through the community via social media," authorities said.Henrico police, along with the FBI and Homeland Security "pursued leads which led to the origin of the message," according to a press release sent out by Henrico police."Further investigation identified a juvenile person of interest and determined that the threat was not credible," the release said. "The investigation is still on-going, and no charges have been placed at this time."An increased police presence is expected today around the three high schools and others, said Henrico police.In a tweet early Friday morning, Henrico Schools said the increased security is "to help everyone feel confident in school safety."According to authorities, there was an outpouring of help from the community to aid in the investigation."Henrico Police extend a sincere thank you to the hundreds of citizens who shared timely information which assisted in this investigation," they said in their release. "We also need to thank the principals of the three mentioned schools whose assistance was invaluable. This was a collaborative effort between the community, law enforcement, and schools.""The safety of our school students and staff is a top priority," the press release continued. "The Henrico County Police Division will continue to work with Henrico County Public Schools to ensure they have a safe environment to learn."This threat is yet another made against Richmond area schools since Feb. 14 when a shooter in Florida shot and killed 17 people at a Continue Reading

Mark Abadi, provided by Published 8:26 am, Monday, March 5, 2018 A&E On "Undercover High," seven adults pretended to be teenagers for four months. Mostly, it wasn't hard to pass as teens — although one undercover high schooler got braces. They took classes, joined clubs, and functioned like regular teenagers. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to relive your high school experience? Recommended Video: Now Playing: Fifty years after Oprah Winfrey helped integrate Nicolet High School, members of the school's current Black Student Union reflect on race, black history. Media: WISN Seven adults did exactly that for the A&E documentary series "Undercover High," in which the participants pose as students at Highland Park High School in Topeka, Kansas, for the spring 2017 semester. The undercover students take classes, join clubs, and make friends at the school to get a better perspective on what life is like for teenagers today. In order to pass as high schoolers, the undercover students needed to make changes to their appearance — sometimes drastic ones. Some of them changed their wardrobes and hairstyles, and 25-year-old Erin even got braces to blend in with the student body. "Staying in character was one of the hardest things," one of the undercover students, a 23-year-old youth pastor named Daniel, told Business Insider. "Just remembering, OK, I am 18 right now, I'm undercover." "I knew I dressed a little older, so I grew my hair out, I tried to wear more jeans, typical stuff that an average teenager is wearing," he said. "I hid it pretty well." Read on to see what the undercover students looked like before they went back to school and after their transformation: Gloria, 26 Mark Abadi/Business Insider/A&E Erin, 25 Mark Abadi/Business Insider/A&E Shane, 22 Mark Abadi/Business Insider/A&E See the rest of the story at Business Insider See Also: 21 psychological tricks that will help you ace a job Continue Reading

Mark Abadi, provided by Published 12:08 pm, Wednesday, February 21, 2018 A&E Seven young adults posed as high school students for a semester on the A&E series "Undercover High." The undercover students discovered that smartphones have completely changed the lives of teenagers. Smartphones have become distractions in the classroom and have made problems like bullying and depression worse. Recommended Video: Now Playing: Students and neighbors describe the suspect in the deadly rampage at a Florida high school as a troubled teenager who threatened and harassed peers and posed with guns in disturbing photos on social media. (Feb. 15) Media: Associated Press In fact, rapidly changing technology has made the typical American high school experience nearly unrecognizable for the average adult. No technological advance has changed the game more than smartphones, according to seven young adults who relived their high-school years on the A&E show "Undercover High." The show follows the adults aged 21 to 26 as they posed as students at Highland Park High School in Topeka, Kansas for the spring 2017 semester. The undercover participants took full course loads, joined clubs, and made friends with students in an effort to see what the lives of teenagers are like today. Here are seven reasons why smartphones have made high school a totally different place for today's teens. Teachers are losing the battle for students' attention A&E The undercover students immediately noticed that smartphone use is widespread at Highland Park. And phone use isn't limited to the hallways and cafeteria — many students spent entire class periods on their phones while teachers fought for their attention. "I'm in my first class just looking around to see, like, what does a high schooler do? And I notice that everyone is on their phone," said Daniel, an undercover student who graduated in 2012. Students at the school are technically forbidden from using Continue Reading

Mark Abadi, provided by Published 1:44 pm, Tuesday, February 20, 2018 A&E Seven young adults posed as high school students for a semester on the A&E show "Undercover High." One of the undercover students, a 26-year-old former bully, described how bullying has changed since she graduated. Social media has made the problem a lot worse, she said. Recommended Video: Now Playing: Keaton Jones is a young boy who has been the victim of relentless bullying by his schoolmates. After posting a video offering strength to those suffering the same treatment, a slew of celebrities came out in support of Keaton with overwhelming responses. Media: Hollyscoop And although many parents have memories of getting picked on, that's nothing compared to what students are facing today. At least that's what Erin, a 26-year-old childcare worker from Milwaukee, discovered after going undercover for a semester at a Kansas high school. Erin, who described herself as a former bully, was one of seven young adults featured on the A&E documentary series "Undercover High," which follows the adults as they pose as students at Highland Park High School in Topeka, Kansas. The undercover participants immersed themselves in student life throughout the spring 2017 semester to get a better understanding of the struggles today's teenagers are dealing with. Erin told Business Insider that technology has allowed bullying to escalate to unprecedented heights. "People are much more courageous behind a keyboard. They say things they never would have the guts to say in front of someone. So the attacks on people are more vicious than they used to be," Erin told Business Insider. "It still hurts whether it's in person or on social media, but I think that because social media allows people to be more bold, it's hurting deeper than it used to." Erin's account was echoed by a Highland Park student who told cameras he's seen "a few people make fake pages just so they can be Continue Reading

Nicolette, 22, was one of seven young adults who went undercover at a Kansas High School as part of a new A&E TV series, “Undercover High.” Nicolette — a former teen mom — and the other adults in their twenties spent the spring 2017 semester as “students” at Topeka’s Highland Park High School. The undercover adults attended classes, made friends and participated in school clubs and activities, according to the show’s website. They also found out just how much high school has changed since they graduated, especially with the influence of smart phones and social media. Nicolette graduated in 2013, and just four years later she said that sexting — the act of sending sexually explicit images via text — has become much more common among high school students. “Now it's not just about your skills, it's about your image, your sexual image,” Nicolette, who did not use her last name in the show, told Business Insider. While she was a “student,” she found out that girl students are constantly pressured to post sexually explicit images of themselves online, according to Business Insider. She also said that girls were regularly being sexually harassed. “It's something that's normal for them, posting promiscuous pictures of themselves and rating themselves based on what others think and like off social media,” Nicolette told Business Insider. Beryl New, principal of Highland Park when the show was filmed, told Business Insider that students would post on social media with the intention of hurting others. “It's part of everyday life for students at our high school, and I think many high schools,” he said. Some of the issues the undercover adults encountered – including social media and cyber-bullying – “was affirmation of information we already knew,” Tiffany Anderson, superintendent of Topeka schools, previously told the Kansas City Continue Reading

By James H. Williams | [email protected] | PUBLISHED: November 10, 2017 at 10:07 pm | UPDATED: November 11, 2017 at 12:05 am Here is a collection of photographs from our photographers during the first round of the 2017 high school football playoffs in Riverside and San Bernardino County. The slideshow may be updated throughout the weekend. Stay tuned. Tesoro Titans quarterback Chase Petersen #7 throws the ball to a teammate against the Upland Highlanders in the first quarter during a CIF Southern Section High School Football Playoff Division II game in Upland on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Ares for the Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)Upland Highlanders quarterback David Baldwin #5 throws the ball to a teammate against the Tesoro Titans in the first quarter during a CIF Southern Section High School Football Playoff Division II game in Upland on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Ares for the Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)Upland Highlanders wide receiver Taj Davis #3 completes a pass against the Tesoro Titans defense in the second quarter during a CIF Southern Section High School Football Playoff Division II game in Upland on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Ares for the Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)Upland Highlanders running back Cameron Davis #23 runs the ball down the field for a couple yards against the Tesoro Titans defense in the second quarter during a CIF Southern Section High School Football Playoff Division II game in Upland on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Ares for the Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)Upland Highlanders wide receiver Taj Davis #3 breaks through the Tesoro Titans defense to score a touchdown in the second quarter during a CIF Southern Section High School Football Playoff Division II game in Upland on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Ares for the Inland Daily Bulletin/SCNG)Tesoro Titans running back Cameron Lambi #34 runs the ball down the field against the Upland Highlanders in the second quarter during a CIF Southern Section High School Football Continue Reading

A Henrico County woman was sentenced Wednesday to serve nearly 11 years behind bars for an April 2017 crash that killed a Highland Springs High School freshman. Keia Mona Hewlett, 36, was convicted in November of aggravated involuntary manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and five counts of child abuse or neglect as a result of the 4 a.m. crash on April 13 in the 2900 block of Darbytown Road. The crash killed Dajanae White, who was 14. Four other children in the vehicle -- a 16-year-old girl, two 11-year-old boys and a 15-year old boy -- were injured after the 2004 Ford Taurus Hewlett was driving left the road and overturned multiple times before coming to rest in a field at Dorey Park. Lytarsha White, Dajanae's mother, said during emotional testimony on Wednesday that her daughter was her only child, adding that the 14-year-old was "my best friend, my daughter, my everything." "I miss my baby so much," White said. White said she would never see her daughter's sweet 16, or see Dajanae go to college or get married. White was declared dead at the scene. The four other children in the car -- three of Hewlett's children and her nephew -- were taken to VCU Medical Center. Hewlett, who was not injured, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.14 percent, nearly double the legal limit, more than an hour after the wreck, prosecutors said at a November court hearing. Hewlett had been drinking vodka with other adults at a home on Jennie Scher Road in Richmond earlier that day, while the children, who were on spring break, played. Her 16-year-old daughter went to the car to escape the "chaotic, party-type atmosphere" and sleep, which infuriated Hewlett, prosecutors said in November. Michael Huberman, Henrico chief deputy commonwealth's attorney, said at Wednesday's sentencing that Hewlett drove off, in a rage and sped along, causing the crash. "This case demonstrates a parent's worst nightmare," Huberman said. Hewlett cried while making a statement just before Continue Reading

The country is about to get an intimate look at what it’s like to be in high school these days through the eyes of seven young adults who went back to school in Kansas — undercover. During the spring semester of 2017, the 20-somethings, who came from across the country, went to school with students at Highland Park High School in Topeka. They enrolled as real students, went to classes, took tests, and went to sporting events, dances and graduation, all the while living in Topeka during filming. Cameras followed them and the students they interacted with. What they saw, heard and experienced became an 11-part documentary series, “Undercover High,” premiering at 9 p.m. Tuesday on A&E. Some of the issues the “undercover” students came face-to-face with — including the prolific use of social media and the scourge of 24/7 cyber-bullying — “was affirmation of information we already knew,” said Tiffany Anderson, superintendent of Topeka Public Schools. “But the level at which some of these issues impact students was, for me, eye-opening.” Producers wanted to spark a conversation about public education but from a fresh perspective, said Greg Henry, executive producer of Lucky 8 TV in New York. The series was produced through its subsidiary, Learning Tree Productions. “We wanted to do it in a way that was unique, a little unorthodox, nontraditional, but would also show you the world in a way you’ve never seen it before,” Henry said. Their search for a school that viewers could relate to led them to Kansas. “One of the things that was important to us was that a viewer could see something of their own local high school in the school,” Henry said. “So we wanted to find a town that wasn’t too big but wasn’t too small, a high school that wasn’t a massive high school but not too small.” Topeka’s place in public education history made it an Continue Reading

In the spring, Indiana high schools graduated more than 70,000 kids into the next phase of their lives. For about two-thirds of them, that will be college. Some of them won't be ready.Every year, Indiana high schools graduate thousands of students who aren't prepared for college-level coursework.In 2015, about one out of every seven Indiana high school graduates who went on to attend one of Indiana’s public colleges or universities — the only students for whom such information is available — was not prepared for college-level coursework. Where did the desks go?: Modern Indiana elementary classrooms have medicine balls and yoga mats That’s dropped from nearly one in four students unprepared for college-level work in 2013 — likely a combination of better preparation on the part of Indiana’s high schools and a change in how the state’s largest provider of remedial courses identifies students, resulting in fewer students being routed into “zero-level” classes.So, progress is being made.But that progress has been inconsistent. In many school systems and in some regions, finding a high school that’s graduating high percentages of students to college and preparing those students well for the work they’ll encounter there can be difficult.Of the high schools that reported data for the last three years available, only 16 enrolled at least 90 percent of their students in some sort of post-secondary education in Indiana or elsewhere and at the same time attained a 90 percent readiness rate at Indiana public colleges. West Lafayette Junior-Senior High School was the only traditional public school among them.Two charter schools, Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School in Indianapolis and Evansville’s Signature School, and the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities were the only other publicly funded schools to meet that distinction. The other 12 are private schools, seven of Continue Reading

There are more than 18,000 public high schools in the United States. What if you could take a snapshot of each one and capture, at a particular moment, what kinds of students were enrolled there and the caliber of the education provided them? If you were to collect these individual snapshots into one huge national yearbook, which high school would be chosen as "Most Likely to Succeed," meaning that it set the best example of how to prepare students to achieve their post-graduation goals? We've attempted to answer that pivotal question in the following pages, our first ever ranking of America's Best High Schools. Using a formula produced in collaboration with School Evaluation Services, a K-12 data research and analysis business run by Standard & Poor's, we put high schools in 40 states through a three-step analysis. First, we measured how each school's students performed on state tests, adjusting for student circumstances. We next evaluated how well each school's disadvantaged students did. Finally, we looked at whether the school was successful in providing college-level coursework. The 100 schools that did the best in this analysis earned gold medals. The next 405 schools were awarded silver medals, and an additional 1,086 schools earned bronze. Like any good photograph, the details of the data gathered for this project reveal a number of fascinating stories. Most notable is the variety among the schools that have earned the highest honor. Our first-place winner, Thomas Jefferson High School in suburban Washington, D.C., picks its students from the children of the nation's leaders. Yet just 10 slots lower, Hidalgo High School on the border of Texas and Mexico has found success educating a student body comprising the children of challenged immigrants. And in Boston, the nation's oldest school carries on an exemplary tradition while a new charter school explores innovations such as housing tutors in dormitories on the third floor of its building. A good Continue Reading